My fathers mother was born in Auckland, New Zealand and named Delenna Tui. Delenna after an Irish princess [or so we are told. NOTE: Aunt Judy says it's a Maori princess. I've looked on Google and can't find anything to confirm that either way.], and Tui after the Tui bird, which is native to New Zealand. This is a Tui bird.
Tui are considered very intelligent, and much like parrots can imitate the human voice in addition to other sounds.
Delenna Tui's father, my great-grandfather, emmigrated from England to Melbourne, Australia, then to Hobart, Tasmania, and eventually Auckland New Zealand where my great-grandmother finally joined him. They were married and had two children - my grandmother and her sister. When Tui was five years old and her mother was 8 months pregnant with a third child (a son), the little family left Auckland traveling by boat. They stopped in Fiji and the Hawaiin Islands before disembarking in Victoria, Canada. They took a train down through the northwestern United States and finally arrived in Utah where my great-grandmothers family had settled some years before. Salt Lake City, Utah would become their new home.
I was excited to visit Melbourne, Hobart, and Auckland as family had resided in these places many years before. Thanks to many letters exchanged by my great-grandparents when they were seperated by oceans and continents, and to other family members for pulling all of this information into one clear document, which I had had the priviledge of digitally retyping some years ago, I had address of places they had lived. So, while in Auckland, I went on a hunt to find where my grandmother and great-grandparents (and even one great-great-grandparent) had resided.
My great-grandfather and his mother and sister lived in the Ponsonby area for a time. In his letters he mentions walking down Ponsonby Street/Road. It's a major thoroughfare and area with many fun restaurants, shops, homes, etc.
Many of the houses and buildings that were in Auckland while my family lived in the area are no longer in existance. Instead I had to guess, based on address, approximately where they would have lived. Such as here...76 Richmond Rd.
In this picture, I'm standing in front of the previous building and taking a picture of the street. This is Richmond Rd.
This too is Richmond Rd. I imagine the homes they lived in may have looked like these.
Tui are considered very intelligent, and much like parrots can imitate the human voice in addition to other sounds.
Delenna Tui's father, my great-grandfather, emmigrated from England to Melbourne, Australia, then to Hobart, Tasmania, and eventually Auckland New Zealand where my great-grandmother finally joined him. They were married and had two children - my grandmother and her sister. When Tui was five years old and her mother was 8 months pregnant with a third child (a son), the little family left Auckland traveling by boat. They stopped in Fiji and the Hawaiin Islands before disembarking in Victoria, Canada. They took a train down through the northwestern United States and finally arrived in Utah where my great-grandmothers family had settled some years before. Salt Lake City, Utah would become their new home.
I was excited to visit Melbourne, Hobart, and Auckland as family had resided in these places many years before. Thanks to many letters exchanged by my great-grandparents when they were seperated by oceans and continents, and to other family members for pulling all of this information into one clear document, which I had had the priviledge of digitally retyping some years ago, I had address of places they had lived. So, while in Auckland, I went on a hunt to find where my grandmother and great-grandparents (and even one great-great-grandparent) had resided.
My great-grandfather and his mother and sister lived in the Ponsonby area for a time. In his letters he mentions walking down Ponsonby Street/Road. It's a major thoroughfare and area with many fun restaurants, shops, homes, etc.
Many of the houses and buildings that were in Auckland while my family lived in the area are no longer in existance. Instead I had to guess, based on address, approximately where they would have lived. Such as here...76 Richmond Rd.
In this picture, I'm standing in front of the previous building and taking a picture of the street. This is Richmond Rd.
This too is Richmond Rd. I imagine the homes they lived in may have looked like these.
For a time, the family lived at 83 Cook Street. Which is approximately here. The green grassy area just right of the tree. Today they would have had quite a view!
This picture was taken more close up and on the same side of the street (Cook Street). From what I can guess, this sidewalk area would have been in or near the front of their home. To the left there is some large business and parking lot.
Here's another view of Cook Street looking up the hill and into central Auckland.
The family also lived on 2 Union Terrace. I was unable to find this exact street - it doesn't appear to be in existance any longer, but there is a Union Street. I wondered if they could be the same? Or perhaps Union Terrace was once just off of Union Street? The area is a major freeway intersection and on ramp so I imagine buildings and streets would have changed a lot since that time.
I had a local resident tell me that Union Terrace may once have been this nearby street, which means the house could possibly have been located here.
These pictures show more of Union Street and the area.
In addition to visiting the addresses I had, I visited the city planning offices (I couldn't find a Union Terrace on any old maps so maybe it really was Union Street?) and towards the end of the day the Auckland Library where I struck gold! On microfiche, I found the name of my great-great-grandmother, Ellen Meehan, who with her youngest daughter, followed her son (my g-g-grandfather) to Auckland. Ellen owned and ran a store. After my g-grandparents and grandmother came to the States there's very little info about these other two women still in Auckland. I was able to find the daughter's marriage records and the burial location of my g-g-grandmother, the daughter, and her husband.
It was just after 3pm and a call to the cemetary (which was clear across town!) confirmed that they closed at 4pm. I ran down the street, grabbed a taxi, and basically told him to "step on it!". It really was like a scene from a movie - all so very surreal. We raced through traffic (this was my last day in Auckland and everyone had returned from their holiday so there were lots of people in town this day. And since I was leaving the next day I wouldn't have another chance!) and just made it by 4pm (BTW, that was one expensive taxi ride. Worth it! But expensive!). The cemetary worker could see how eager I was to see the grave and have a little time there so stayed a while longer for me. She even helped me find the grave.
This picture was taken more close up and on the same side of the street (Cook Street). From what I can guess, this sidewalk area would have been in or near the front of their home. To the left there is some large business and parking lot.
Here's another view of Cook Street looking up the hill and into central Auckland.
The family also lived on 2 Union Terrace. I was unable to find this exact street - it doesn't appear to be in existance any longer, but there is a Union Street. I wondered if they could be the same? Or perhaps Union Terrace was once just off of Union Street? The area is a major freeway intersection and on ramp so I imagine buildings and streets would have changed a lot since that time.
I had a local resident tell me that Union Terrace may once have been this nearby street, which means the house could possibly have been located here.
These pictures show more of Union Street and the area.
In addition to visiting the addresses I had, I visited the city planning offices (I couldn't find a Union Terrace on any old maps so maybe it really was Union Street?) and towards the end of the day the Auckland Library where I struck gold! On microfiche, I found the name of my great-great-grandmother, Ellen Meehan, who with her youngest daughter, followed her son (my g-g-grandfather) to Auckland. Ellen owned and ran a store. After my g-grandparents and grandmother came to the States there's very little info about these other two women still in Auckland. I was able to find the daughter's marriage records and the burial location of my g-g-grandmother, the daughter, and her husband.
It was just after 3pm and a call to the cemetary (which was clear across town!) confirmed that they closed at 4pm. I ran down the street, grabbed a taxi, and basically told him to "step on it!". It really was like a scene from a movie - all so very surreal. We raced through traffic (this was my last day in Auckland and everyone had returned from their holiday so there were lots of people in town this day. And since I was leaving the next day I wouldn't have another chance!) and just made it by 4pm (BTW, that was one expensive taxi ride. Worth it! But expensive!). The cemetary worker could see how eager I was to see the grave and have a little time there so stayed a while longer for me. She even helped me find the grave.
The whole experience was pretty incredible really.
I'm grateful to strong family members who went before me. And for the chance to find them and complete temple work for them.
I'm grateful to strong family members who went before me. And for the chance to find them and complete temple work for them.
1 comment:
awesome Sheridan! I really do hope one day to go back there and experience this all...just as you have. Your info will give me a great start and maybe we can find even more info out!
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